Charm Design Review and GIVEAWAY!

I love a good, trendy, functional, well made bag… I mean I LOOOOVE a good bag! And who doesn’t?! You are all in for a treat today!! I am super pumped to introduce you to a fab etsy shop – Charm Design.

I was fortunate enough to be sent this super chic clutch to review…

I just love this clutch design, and the print?! *adore* I also love that I can carry it when I’m just wearing jeans and a sweater OR it can be carried out on ‘date night’. The craftsman ship is superior and in fact, there is not a single flaw in the stitching that I can see!!

Charm Design offers a LARGE line of bags from Shoulder Bags to round and oval Zipper Pouches to Granny Bags! What’s more, all the bags are reasonably priced – even for this Momma of 3! The bag I reviewed sells for only $25!

Below are a few of my favorites. Notice the variety of fabrics. Ready to drool…

There's something about this print that's just calling me...

Oh, and here's a pic of one of the totes - how fun!

Charm Design has generously offered one Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a Pouch of her choice from THIS page of the shop!!

Mandatory Entry

Visit Charm Design and comment here on your most loved bag. Don’t forget to include your email address!

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect (over there on the right)

1 Entry: Like Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook (Please leave your name and first initial)

1 Entry: Follow Charm Design and AMomsWord on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway! You can tweet 1x day until the giveaway is over for more entries, just come back and leave a comment with the link each time. You can use this sample tweet:

“Enter to #Win a Designer Clutch of YOUR CHOICE from @charmdesign on @AMomsWord ends 3/15 http://tiny.cc/qbhh5"

1 Entry: Enter my other giveaway for 3 Crochet Patterns HERE

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents. Ends March 15, 2011.

Disclosure: I was provided with the above clutch for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Inner Hooker GIVEAWAY!!

Calling all Hookers! Yes, you heard me… I have a fabulous giveaway for you from a fabulously talented hooker! Meet Scotti of Inner Hooker.

Scotti is the creative mind (and hands) behind Inner Hooker - offering a large variety of reasonably priced (!!) crochet patterns for wee ones to adults! As you know, I am a proud (and perhaps obsessive) hooker and I have really admired Scotti and Inner Hooker’s unique designs and patterns!

Just check out these beauties… Tell me she doesn't make the sweetest little bunny?!

And the ever popular owl hat...

A classic for the teen or adult...

Inner Hooker also offers buy more save more deals - which is always the way to go...

Scotti has generously offered 3 patterns to 3 winners!! That’s right, each winner will get 3 patterns of their choice!! *insert jealously here*

Entry is super easy, but be sure to include your email address and complete the mandatory entry first for all bonus entries to count!

Mandatory Entry

CLOSED

Visit Inner Hooker and comment here with the 3 patterns you would choose if you were lucky enough to win.

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: Like Inner Hooker on Facebook (please leave your FB name and last initial)

1 Entry: Like Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook (again, please leave your FB name and last initial)

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect (over there on the right)

1 Entry: Follow AMomsWord on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You may tweet 1x daily for even more entries! You may use this sample tweet:

“Attention all Hookers! Enter to #win 3 #crochet patterns from Inner Hooker and @AMomsWord 3 winners! Ends 3/13 http://tiny.cc/hsizu”

1 Entry: Enter my other giveaway for a Designer Clutch of your choice HERE

Open Worldwide! Ends 3/13

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I merely wanted to share an awesome shop with you all!

Hand Made With Love GIVEAWAY!

Yup! I'm sponsoring another giveaway!! This time around I'm participating in the Hand Made With Love Blog Hop Giveaway Event.

Who is the host you ask?! Why, the lovely Jennifer over at Mom Vs. The Boys

With 3 young boys at home Jennifer finds the time to write, review and offer giveaways for all of you! I've been a follower of hers for some time now and I think you should be too !

For the event I'm giving away a CUSTOM crocheted beanie! You choose the colours and the size (up to 3 years!) and I'll send it right to your door!

As an added bonus, when you enter to win the beanie you are also entered to win a fab piece of jewelry from a fantastic artisan - Ann Wylie-Toll.

Enter HERE! Good luck, the giveaway is only open til the 6th!

CSN Stores and a GIVEAWAY!!

Looking for a swing set? A bedroom set? A new hand bag? Look no further! CSN Stores is here! Haven't heard of them?! Helloooo, where have you been? CSN Stores offer over 200 stores where you can find anything your heart - or sweetheart desires! And lucky for you... to help with this little shopping spree I know you all want to have, CSN Stores is offering you a $35 Gift Code to get you started!

ENTRY

To enter, all you have to do is stop by CSN Stores' website, look around and in a comment tell me what you're eyeing up. That's it! But please be sure to include your email address in your comment.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 Entry - Follow Take A Mom's Word For It through Google Friend Connect

1 Entry - Like Take A Mom's Word For It on Facebook (please leave your name and initial)

1 Entry - Like CSN Stores on Facebook (please leave me your name and initial)

1 Entry - Follow Take A Mom's Word For It on Twitter and Tweet the following message:

"Enter to win a $35 GC to CSN Stores on @AMomsWord ends 2/17 http://tiny.cc/v5ksk #win #giveaway"

Open to Canada and the US. Giveaway ends February 17, 2011.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Cheerios First Foods and a GIVEAWAY!

Cheerios, a staple in most Canadian homes has recently teamed up with babycenter.ca, launching a new site section called "First Foods".

I was invited to join this blog tour and immediately thought, "umm... I don't have babies anymore", but really, what a great way to share some of our family happenings surrounding first foods and eating.

As most of you know, we have 3 girls. The older 2 are twins and are 5.5 years old. Our youngest is 2.5 years old. I remember when my big girls were small (look at those smiles below), we struggled with the mere logistics of feeding 2 babies at once. In order to maintain a schedule and our sanity, it was important for them to eat roughly at the same time... after all, we're not running a snack bar here.

They were both what I would call 'good eaters' so we never struggled with making food exciting. We struggled with only having 2 hands... the solution... not rocket science... use ONE spoon and ONE bowl! There really is no need to struggle with managing 2 bowls and 2 spoons at once and alternating - they're sisters, they're twins and they chew on the same toys, sometimes at the SAME TIME!

Here are a couple pics of my twin cuties when they were younger *sigh* - they ate their fair share of Cheerios - despite finding them in the sofa, in the car and in their diapers (don't ask!)!

Now that the girls are nearly 6, they STILL love the Cheerios brand. They're now big into Apple Cinnamon and Honey Nut!

With the launch of the Cheerios First Foods section of babycenter.ca, you'll have a one-stop site for answering all of your feeding questions - when do I buy a highchair, what about allergies??

GIVEAWAY!

And now for the GIVEAWAY!! Cheerios is giving away a Cheerios Prize Pack valued at $50! The Prize Pack is pictured below and features a Cheerios On-The-Go Tot Container, a Cheerios Playbook, a box of Cheerios, a bowl and utensil set AND a $30 Cash Card!!

ENTRY

Entry is super simple!! Just visit the Cheerios First Food Section on babycenter.ca and tell me in a comment below, something you found or something you thought was interesting! That's it!

BONUS ENTRIES

1 Entry - Follow Take A Mom's Word For It publicly through Google Friend Connect

1 Entry - Like Take A Mom's Word For It on Facebook (please leave your first name and initial)

1 Entry - Follow Take A Mom's Word For It on Twitter HERE and tweet the following:

"Enter to win a $50 Cheerios Prize Pack on @AMomsWord ends 2/14 http://tiny.cc/04p0m"

Giveaway is open to Canada and US residents only. Ends February 14, 2011

Disclosure: I am participating in the Cheerios First Foods program by Mom Central on behalf of General Mills. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

EdenFantasys GIVEAWAY!

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Spa Sisters - Review & GIVEAWAY!

Like most women, I enjoy my alone time in the bathroom… time to have a hot shower, shave, pluck the eyebrows; you know, all the necessities! Reality however means that I always seem to have at least one little body underfoot.

I was recently introduced to a Canadian company - Spa Sisters who offer a line of spa products that are truly natural. Spa Sisters, according to their website, carefully select fair traded, pure and natural ingredients for their products.

I was given a choice as to which product I’d like to review and I chose the Kids’ Mandarin Bubble Bath. I was delighted when they sent a full sized bottle of mandarin goodness AND 2 other ‘mommy products’.

Now to give you a little history, we had to stop using bubble bath with my girls because their skin was too sensitive. I had reservations about trying this product. To my delight, we have used a third of the bottle with NO skin irritations! What’s more, is that you don’t need to empty a quarter of the bottle into the water to make a sufficient amount of bubbles.

The first time we used the bubble bath Miss H came up the stairs and shouted with excitement, “It smells like oranges!” and IT DOES! The mandarin scent is quite lovely and not harsh at all! My girls LOVE having bubbles in the bath again and really look forward to spending time in the tub!

Spa Sisters offer a number of natural, handmade products for the entire family! What a great holiday gift idea!!

Check out these goodies that caught my eye…

Bum Balm – 100% natural and contains NO ZINC!

Body Meringue – loaded with tropical butters for that awful winter skin – I know you get it ;)

Lip Butter – available in 7 luscious flavours!

Want to get you hands on some of this natural goodness? The ladies at Spa Sisters will hook you up!

BUY IT!

Head on over to Spa Sisters and choose some truly great pampering products. Enter “Word” into the promo code box and receive 10% off of your purchase!!

WIN IT!

Win a $25 GC to Spa Sisters! This sure would make gift giving easier this season… or maybe you’ll need a little pampering once everything is said and done! Enter below for you chance to win.

Mandatory Entry

Check out Spa Sisters’ online store. Have a look around and comment below with the name of a product you’d really like to try – simple, right?! Just wait til you see all their wonderful goodies!

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: “Like” Spa Sisters on Facebook and tell them I sent you. (please leave your first name and initial)

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It through Google Friend Connect

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook (please leave your first name and initial)

1 Entry: Follow Spa Sisters on Twitter HERE

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It on Twitter HERE

1 Entry: Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link. You can tweet daily for an additional entry each day! You may use this sample tweet:

#win a $25 GC to @SpaSisters on @AMomsWord Pamper yourself this holiday season with natural bath products ends 12/8 http://tiny.cc/ie2io

Good Luck! Giveaway ends December 8, 2010

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents.

Disclosure: I received bubble bath and 2 small samplers for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Kael & Kaed Review & GIVEAWAY!

Like any Mom, I love things that are not only super functional, but also stylish! Enter Kael & Kaed – handmade things for baby, toddler and home. Kael & Kaed is a Canadian company run and owned by a fab Mom named Tasha. Tasha and her shop offer a number of products including this Eco-Friendly Bamboo Cotton Tie Dyed shirt.

My family and I were given the opportunity to try out one of their newer products – an Organic Toy/Sippy/Sophie Leash.

The leash is approximately 30 inches long (before doing up any of the snaps). One end attaches to your stroller or car seat while the other end has two loop sizes to accommodate what you need to attach.

Notice that the sippy cup does not actually touch the ground!!

Kael & Kaed products are totally customizable and reasonably priced! Planning to buy a toy for the little one on your list this holiday season? Pick up a custom toy leash to make your gift complete!

BUY IT!

Head on over to Kael & Kaed and pick up something totally custom and highly functional!

WIN IT!

Tasha of Kael & Kaed has offered one lucky Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a $5 GC to her shop - with a special surprise with order! With prices being so reasonable, this is a great giveaway!

Mandatory Entry

Check out Kael & Kaed, choose your favorite item and come back here and leave me a comment telling me which your fave is.

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: Become a Facebook Fan of Kael & Kaed (please leave your name and first initial)

1 Entry: Become a Facebook Fan of Take A Mom’s Word For It – already a fan, just leave me a comment to let me know!

1 Entry: Add Kael & Kaed to your favorites list on etsy (please leave me your user name).

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It on Twitter (please leave your Twitter name)

1 Entry: Tweet about this giveaway. You may use this sample tweet: “Enter to win a GC to Kael & Kaed – leashes and paci clips Enter @AMomsWord http://tiny.cc/immjz ends 11/22 #giveaway” (1x daily for extra entries)

10 Entries: Place an order at Kael & Kaed during the duration of this giveaway. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good Luck! Open to Canadian and US Residents. Ends November 22, 2010. Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.

Disclosure: I received a toy leash for review purposes. No other compensation was received.

The Magic Warble Review & GIVEAWAY!

I am not much of a reader – at least not for leisure purposes. Let’s face it, I’m a busy, (now) working Mom of three and when I have a few extra minutes reading does not make my top 3! That being said, I was contacted by a lovely woman by the name of Victoria Simcox. Victoria is the author of a book titled “The Magic Warble”.

The Magic Warble is a magical book about fairies, dwarfs, gnomes and talking animals. I was glad I was given the opportunity to read and review this book for you – for one, it forced me to take a little time for myself, and second, it really is a great book! Much to my delight, my book arrived signed, with a bookmark and a bracelet.

The Magic Warble is about an unlikely and somewhat lonely hero named Kristina. She travels to a new and magical land where she makes a few unusual friends as she tries to fulfill her quest to save this newly found land.

The Magic Warble is intended for a tween audience, but as an adult, I still found it to be a great read – and beautifully written. It’s a book of fabulous fantasy and would make for a wonderful Christmas gift!

The author Victoria Simcox has offered one lucky Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a copy of her book!

BUY IT!

The Magic Warble is available for purchase at http://www.themagicwarble.com/ or through Amazon.

WIN IT!

Win your very own copy of The Magic Warble and be transported to a land of fantasy!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Please leave me a comment telling me who in your family would enjoy this book – simple right?!

Bonus Entries

2 Entries: Become a follower Victoria Simcox’s blog HERE.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect.

2 Entries: Become a fan of The Magic Warble on Facebook and let Victoria know I sent you. (please leave your FB name so I can verify your entry)

2 Entries: Follow Victoria Simcox on Twitter (please leave me your Twitter handle).

2 Entries: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It on Twitter (please leave me your Twitter handle).

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use this sample tweet:

“#Win a copy of The Magic Warble by @victoriasimcox to be transported to magical land @AMomsWord Ends 10/2 #giveaway http://tiny.cc/1y28i"

This can be tweeted up to 3x day (at least an hour apart)!

2 Entries: Post my button on your blog.

2 Entries: Sign up for Email Notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It

10 Entries: Purchase The Magic Warble and tell me when you bought it.

Good Luck! Ends October 2, 2010

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US Residents

Disclosure: I was provided with a signed copy of The Magic Warble for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Modern and Classy Designs Review & GIVEAWAY!

It’s coming. As much as I have wished September would never get here it is just around the corner. So, as we prepare to send our wee ones back to school (no matter the age) let’s continue to have a little fun with this Back To School Review and GIVEAWAY Event!!

I have been a Facebook fan of Modern and Classy Designs for some time now – though I can’t remember how that came about (* the wonders of social networking!). Modern and Classy Designs offer a number of unique, PERSONALIZED items for all purposes and occasions.

I had been searching for a personalized pencil box or pencil case for the Back To School Event, but hadn’t seen anything that really jumped out at me. Although Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs didn’t carry anything like that, I contacted her with this special request because I had been admiring her designs for some time now. She immediately agreed and whipped up this fabulous pencil box…

As I have mentioned before, I am a teacher headed back to work this fall after an extended Maternity Leave. This is a perfect box to take with me! It has a fun design that does not come off easily as one might expect – no need to worry about fidgeting hands with this one! It also holds all my ‘teaching essentials’.

Don’t have a little one headed of to school next month? This personalized box would suit many purposes – holding hair clips and a brush, ‘treasures’, a snack, you name it!

Personalized items are so popular nowadays, and Jennifer has a little something for everyone! For the Moms with young babes check out these personalized wipes cases, baby bottles and pacifiers. She also offers piggy banks, bibs and bags!

For those of you planning a wedding and are looking for that perfect item to give you wedding party, how about personalized wine glasses – in your wedding colors?!

Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs has such a wide array of products from store signs to vinyl decals to embroidered items to mirrors to key chains to cups!! Here are a few of my faves…

BUY IT!

Head on over to Modern and Classy Designs and pick up a truly personalized item at a fantastic price point!

WIN IT!

Jennifer at Modern and Classy Designs has offered one lucky Take A Mom’s Word For It reader a Personalized Pencil Box!!

Mandatory Entry

As always, please leave your email address with every comment (unless it’s in your profile)… you don’t want to win and then have me not be able to reach you!

Simply "like" Modern and Classy Designs on Facebook - yup, that's it!

Bonus Entries

2 Entries: Visit Modern and Classy Designs on Facebook and have a look through the many, many products Jennifer offers. Comment under your favorite and then come back here and leave me your FB name.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It via Google Friend Connect.

2 Entries: Follow AMomsWord on Twitter

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use this sample tweet:

“#Win a Personalized Pencil Box from Modern and Classy Designs on @AMomsWord Ends 9/10 #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/2cr6nkc"

This can be tweeted up to 3x day (at least an hour apart)!

2 Entries: Post my button on your blog.

1 Entry: "Like" Take A Mom's Word For It on Facebook.

2 Entries: Sign up for Email Notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It

10 Entries: Make a purchase from Modern and Classy Designs and tell me what you bought and when.

Good Luck! Ends September 10, 2010

Giveaway is open to Canadian and US Residents

Disclosure: I received a personalized pencil box for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Girl Gotch Review & GIVEAWAY!

There’s no way around it… we ALL need underwear! ;) And with 3 girls in underwear now (yay! for successful potty training!) I feel like I am forever buying underwear (and socks – but that’s another story!)!

I was recently introduced to a Canadian company called Girl Gotch – and guess what?! They specialize in underwear for girls, “that’s too cute to be boys’” – right up my alley!! For review I was sent 2 boxes of gotch – size 2 and size 6… all my girls got to give it a try!

Little S who is a tiny size 2 was sent the boxer-style to try… this underwear is SOO cute – like little ‘boy cut boxers’! And in fact, when I opened the package we had a few people over that totally thought they were great!

First of all, I love the non-traditional colours. It’s always refreshing to see products for girls that are not pink or purple.

The boxers fit Little S great! As I mentioned, she’s a pretty tiny girl so although the boxers were a little roomy they offered great coverage in a super soft fabric.

Miss A and Miss H received the brief-style which was inspired by the original “tighty whitey”.

The big girls LOVED these! The 3 colours are vibrant and girly – which was a hit! They offered great coverage and what’s more, the band at the top does NOT have a seam on the side(s)! Often times I get complaints about other underwear digging into their sides with certain pants or while sleeping – not the case with these!

One other feature I wanted to note was that Girl Gotch is made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex so they’re sure to fit great and retain their shape!

Here’s a little on how Rebecca founded Girl Gotch, “One afternoon, we were at my sister’s house. My daughter and nephew were playing outside and were so wrapped up in their fun that my daughter had an accident. I didn’t have a change of clothes, so I borrowed a pair of my nephew’s gotch. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as the day went on I noticed that she wasn’t complaining about her underwear hurting. I also watched her jump and play around and they stayed in place. The gotch covered her whole bm, which was something her panties never managed to do.

That got me to thinking…why don’t they make gotch for girls? And so, Girl Gotch was born and that brings me to today. I have been working with designers and manufacturers to get what I believe are the best girls’ underwear on the market!”

Girl Gotch is a little more expensive than I’d usually pay for underwear, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for!!

BUY IT!

Head on over to Girl Gotch today and cover your little girls’ fannies in a great product!

WIN IT!

Rebecca from Girl Gotch has generously offered one Take A Mom’s Word For It reader 1 box of Girl Gotch a week for 3 WEEKS! That’s 3 whole boxes – what a great way to start back to school!

Mandatory Entry

PLEASE leave your email address with every entry (unless it’s in your profile).

Rebecca and Girl Gotch are entered into the Savvy Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Go HERE and vote for Rebecca and Girl Gotch. Be sure to leave a comment on the Savvy Mom page (for contest tracking) AND then here on this post to be entered to win 1 box a week for 3 weeks!!

Bonus Entries

1 Entry: “Like” Girl Gotch on Facebook and tell her I sent you. Please leave your FB name so I can verify your entry.

1 Entry: “Like” Take A Mom’s Word For It on Facebook. Already like me?! Aw shucks! Please tell me!

3 Entries: Update your Facebook status telling all your lovelies about this great giveaway. Please tag “@take a mom’s word for it” in your post.

1 Entry: Follow Take A Mom’s Word For It Blog through Google Friend Connect.

1 Entry: Follow me on Twitter HERE.

2 Entries: Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this sample tweet:

“Win 3 boxes of Girl Gotch – it’s too cute to be boys’! @amomsword ends 9/8 #giveaway #win http://tiny.cc/dmxnh"

This can be done 3 times a day max(at least one hour apart) for 2 entries each time until the giveaway closes. Be sure to include the permalink to verify.

3 Entries: Post the Take A Mom’s Word For It button on your blog. Please leave me the link.

3 Entries: Sign up for email notifications from Take A Mom’s Word For It. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription through Feedburner.

10 Entries: Make a purchase from Girl Gotch. Leave me your name, what you purchased and when.

Good luck to everyone! Open to Canada & US only.

Giveaway ends September 8, 2010

Disclosure: I received 2 boxes of Girl Gotch for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.